Door latch



Jul 29, 1930.

u G. SURPRENANT 1,771,737

DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 21 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Liz-231 INVENTOR y 1930- I U. G. SURPRENANT 1,771,737

DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 21, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 'INVENTOR UL /?/C G. SURP/FE/V/l/V T ATTORNEY;

July 29, 1930. u. G. SURPRENANT 1,771,737

DOOR LATCH Filed Sept. 21', 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR u e/c 6. SUEP/EE/YANT I ATTORNEY 1 July 29, 1930. u. G. SURPRENANxT 1,

000 LATCH Filed Sept. '21, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 rauma Jilly 29,1930

UNITED-S ATES PATE T orrlca ULBIC G. SUBPRENANT, SOUTH BEND,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY Infill ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE AMERICAN SWISS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01' OHIO \ noon. LATCH This invention relates to doors and the like, and particularly to latch mechanisms therefor, and more particularly to such mechanisms as are adaptable for use in connection 6 with the doors of closed automobiles.

An object of the present invention is tov provide a new and novel latch mechanism.

Another object is to provide a latch mechanism for doors in which the inside operating handle may be positioned at any convenient 1 place between the free and hinged edges of the door and which may be utilized as a door pull-to handle.

Another object is to provide such a latch 16 mechanism with new and novel means for locking the outside door handle from movement, which means maybe operated from the inside of the door by movement of the inside latch operating handle, and may be placed 2 in unlocked position from the outside of the door by key controlled means only. Another object is to provide a door latch having a bolt normally retractable by means of a handle positioned on the outside of the door, and also being retractable by a handle on the inside of the door, the inside handle being connected to the bolt through a lever, link, and a plate having a lost motion between the same and the bolt.

Another object is to provide such a plate as described above with a cam arm or face which is adapted to move a lever or stop into engagement-with the outside handle actuating cam when the inside handle is turned in of the door, for moving the above described plate out of locking position with the looking I lever or stop.

' The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view. I i

In the accompanying drawings, which i1- latch mechanism, and also showing the ina direction opposite to that required to relustrate a. suitable embodiment of the resent invention, and in which like numera refer to like parts throughout. the several different views, Figure 1 is a perspective view, from the inside of an automobile door, part of the upholsteryor finishing material being removed *to show the relative location of the latch parts.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken as on the line 2-2-of Figure 1 and showing parts of a door frame in conjunction with the door.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the outside of the latch board shown in Figure 1 and showing the relative location of the latch mechanism more clearly. 4 Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view from the outside of the latch, showing the outside door handle and key controlled unlocking device in connection therewith, the inside operating handle being omitted.

Figure 5 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 4, but with the latch casing or cover removed to show the position of the '15 side operating handle, but omitting the outside handle or the key controlled locking device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the latch bolt in a position corresponding with Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the slide or platemember shown in the same position as in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side view of the latch mechanism mounted in position on the lock board, with the front face of the casing in section, showing the position which the diiiere'nt parts assume when the inside handle is turned down to withdraw the latch bolt.

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8, but showing the position which the parts assume when the latch bolt is forced back by the outside door handle.

Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Fig-' ure 8, but showing the position which the diflerent parts assume when the inside-operating handle is moved upwardly to place the latch in locked position.

ure 8, but showing the position which the arts assume when the key controlled cam is turned to move the latch out of locked position. As shown in Figure 1, the door comprises a frame consisting of vertically extending members 20 and 21 and suitable cross members 22, 23 and 24. The frame below the cross member 23 is covered with a suitable sheathingand the-spacebetween-the cross members 22and' 23 .is left open except for the glass window 25 which is slidable thereinto. The door is hinged to a door frame member 26 shown in Figure 2 by hinges such as 27.

Extending between" the upright frame members 20 and .2,1. immediately below the cross member 23' is a board or plate 28 which serves as a support for the window regulator mechanism and the latch mechanism. The latch referred to consists of a casing formed of asupporting plate 29 and a cover plate 30 (see Figure 4) which encloses the greater proportion of the working parts of the latch. The board 28 is provided with a shallow depression or recess 31 in which the latch is adapted 'to seat and two overlying strap members 32- (seeFigure 3) are suitably secured to a the board 28 by rivets, spot welding, or other means for holding the latch in this position. The end of the plate29 is bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the late to form a flange 33 through which the orward end of the latch bolt 34 slides and is guided. The latch bolt extends rearwardly therefrom and is provided with an upwardly and forwardly projecting arm 35 and a lateral elongated lug 36, best shown in Figure 6. A. plate member 37, having an elongated slot 38 which receives the lug 36 slidably supported thereon against the bolt, '34,. the lug 36 projecting through the slot 38 and into the slot 39 formed in the casin cover 30, as best shown in Figure 4, whic thereby slidably supports the rear end of the-bolt-34 and holds the plate member .37 irrproper relation thereto. A

spirally wound spring 40 anchored to the plate 29 "and provided with an extending free end 41 which presses against the rear end,

of the bolt 34 is provided for normally holding the bolt, 34 in projected position. A conventionalroll back 42 having a cam 43 which contactswith the.upper forward face of the latch bolt. arm-35, issupported by the casing .29, and'- cqver30 and-1s rotatable by the i outside doonhandle 44-(Figures 2 and 4) for retracting the -latcli-bolt34-as shown in Figure-'9.

'1 :link 45, is'lp ivo tall v --con1icted at its one end to the rear end of the sliding plate 37 andijat itsoppositeendto-the lower end of thelever46 which. is nonrotatably secured to the Ishankof the insideidoorrhandle 47. The handle-47 ispivota lly-supported by an auxiliary casing 48 secured-- -tothe plate or board %..and; gtrte erehla-p r t on m y the width of the door, but may be ositioned at any point thereon if desired, t e handle 47 being formed to provide a pull-to handle for the door.

In Figure 5 which shows the different parts of the latch mechanism in their normal position, it will be'noticed that the lug 36 lies at the forward end of the slot 37, the slot being longer than the lug 36 so that when the door is slammed shut the bolt 34 may recede sufiiciently to slip tpast the keeper 49 (Figure 2) on the door rame post 50 withmechanism. When the free end of the inside handle 47 is moved downwardly as shown in Figure 8, the lower end of the lever 46 moves rearwardly, carrying with it the link 45, slide plate 37 andthe bolt 34, thereby retracting the latter from normal position so that the door may be opened. When the outside door handle 44 is utilized to retract the latch, it is turned to move the roll back cam 43 rearwardly, as shown in Figure 9, so that the cam abuts against the upper forward face of the latch bolt arm 35 and forces the latch bolt 34 rearwardly, the lug 36 sliding in the slot 38 during this movement without moving the plate 37 or connected parts.

A lever 51 is positioned above the slidingcam 43, and is provided with an angularly positioned cam surface 52 on its lower edge adjacent its rear end. The sliding plate 37 is provided with an upwardly extendin arm portion 53 against which the lower edge of the lever '51, rearwardly of the cam surface 52, normally rests, being urged to that position by a leaf spring 54 which is secured in the upper edge of the cover plate 30 and which bears against the upper rear edge of the lever 51. lVhen the free end of the inside handle 47 is. moved upwardly from normal or horizontal position, as shown in Figure 10, the lower end of the lever 46 is moved forwardly, moving the link- 45 and sliding plate 37 forvardly a corresponding amount. When the sliding plate 37 thus moves forwardly, the arm portion 53 is also moved forwardly and the upper edge of the arm contacts with the cam surface 52 on the lever 51 and forces the rear end of the lever '51 upwardly, causing the front end to move downwardly back of the roll back cam 43. .The lever 51 therebyprevents rotation of the cam 43. thus preventing the turning of the outside door handle 44'to open the door, and thuslocks the door against movement from the outside. Although the door is thus locked from the outside it will be apparent that the bolt 34 may be forced back independently of the inner or outer handles 44 and 47 when pressure is exerted on the end of the bolt. This is particularly desirable to prevent injury to the mechanism when the latch is locked. while the door is open, and the door then is slammed shut, in which case the bolt 34 recedes when passing over the keeper 49 without disturbing the rest of the mechanism.

This locking mechanism is preferably used on all the doors, and it is suflicient if means is provided in connection with but one of them to unlock the latch from the outside in order to open the door, after which the remaining doors may be opened from the inside by' moving the free end of the inside handle 47 downwardly to normal or horizontal position. The lock shown in the drawing is provided withmeans for unlocking the door from the outside, and such means consists of a second roll back 55, supported between the supporting plate 29 and cover plate 30 below the bolt 34 in the same manner that the roll back 42 is supported, and provided.

with a cam 56. The sliding plate 37 is provided with a lower arm 57 the forward face of which normally lies a short distance rearwardly of the cam 56-, and which is moved to a point immediately adjacent thereto when the free end of the handle 47 is moved upwardly to move the sliding plate 37 into locked position. A stem 58 non-'rotatably engaging the roll back projects outwardly therefrom and its rotatable position may be controlled by a pin tumbler lock 59 or other type), the face of which is exposed on the outer face of the door, and which is operated by a key such as 60. When the parts are in locked position, as indicated in Figure 10, and the key 60 is turned in a clockwise direction, causing the cam 56 to move rearwardly, whereby the cam forces the sliding plate 37 rearwardly. as shown in Figure 11,

until the upper end of the arm portion 53.

moves out of contact with the cam surface 52, the rearward movement of the plate 37 allows the forward "end of the lever 51 to raise out of contact with the roll back 43 and the handle .44 can be rotated to rotate the roll back cam 43 and thereby retract the bolt 34 to' open the door. The lock 59 is preferably of that type wherein the key 60 is removable in one position only whereby the key and roll back cam 56 must be turned back to normal position before the key may be removed, thus preventing any subsequent interference of the cam 56 with the rest of the mechanism.

v It will be evident from the above description that when the door is sheathed on the outside and upholstered on the inside. the only evidence of the latch on the sides of the door willbe the handle 44 and the face of the lock '59 on the outside, and the handle 47 on the inside of the door, which handle 47 also acts as a door pull-to handle thus eliminating the conventional pull handle.

The door may be unlatched from the outside by turning the outside handle 44, and

may be unlatched from the inside by turning the" handle 47 to move its free end downwardly. The door may also be locked by moving the free end of the handle 47 upwardly. When it is desired to unlock the door from the outside, the key 60 is inserted in the lock 59 and turned in a clockwise direction which thereafter allows the door to be unlatched by turning the outside handle 44.

It will be apparentthat the construction embodies only very few parts which may, for the most part, be formed from sheet metal. In addition, if it is so desired, the latch may be built into the supporting board or plate 28, thus eliminating the plate I 29. which .itmay thus replace.

Ijormal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim 1. In a door latch, a casing, a bolt slidabl e in said casing, a roll-back supported by said casing in a position to engage said bolt, a plate connected to said bolt by a lost motion connection, an inside handle operativly connected thereto, a lever pivotally supported on said casing co-operatively engaging said plate and having an end thereof normally positioned adjacent but out of contact with said roll-back, and means whereby when said inside handle i s'moved in one direction from normal position said boltwill be retracted, and when moved in the opposite direction said plate will be moved to cause said lever to engage said roll-back and thereby prevent movement of the same.

2. In a door latch, a casing, a bolt slidable in said casing, a plate having a lost motion connection with said bolt, a roll-back supported by said casing in a position to engage said bolt to cause retraction of the same upon rotation thereof, a lever pivoted on said casing and having a portion thereof engageable bysaid plate upon forward movement ofsaid plate and a portion movable by said engagement to dog said roll-back, an inside handle, and means connecting said inside handle with said plate to cause either forward or rearward movement of" the same;

3. In a door latch, a casing, a 'bolt slidable therein, a plate connectedto .said bolt by means of a slot and lug connection whereby it has limited sliding movement relative thereto, a roll-back supported .by .said casing-in a position to engage said. bolt to cause Are.- traction thereof, an insideh handle, a link connecting said plate to said handle whereby movement of the latter willcau'se retraction ing and having one' endthereof in engagementhwith said plate and the otherv end normally lying adjacent to, but out of contact {with ,said roll-back, ;a .cam surface on said .leverengageable by said plate when said hand le, is turned "to move said plate forwardly fromv its normal position thereby to rock said m rited cause it :to engage said roll-back to 1 .reventmovement thereof, and a key con- .tro led ,s'econd'roll-back supported by said casing ina position to engage said plate when in said forward position to thereby move said platerearwardly out of contact with said oam surface and thereby to release said lever vfr m engagement with the first-mentioned roll-back.

I .4. In a remote control latch, the vcombination of a latch unit, a bolt slidably supported by" said unit, a separate remote control unit including an operating handle, an outside retractor for said bolt mounted on the latch unit a. reciprocating means for dogging said retractor mounted: on the latch unit, an inside operated slidable plate secured on the latch unit. for releasing said dogging means and vretracting'said bolt, and pivotal connecting' means between the plate and the operatinghandleon'the remote control unit.

5. Thecombination with a latch bolt, of outside means, for retracting said bolt, inside means comprising a plate having a lost motion connection with said bolt operable to retract said bolt, dogging means for the outside retractor,and means controlled bysaid plate for first releasing said dog and then retractingsaid bolt.

6. In a .door latch, the combination of a latchbolt, outside means for retracting said bolt, inside means for retracting said bolt including-a plate having a connection with said bolt allowingv lost motion of said plate longitudinally of said bolt, and means for dogging and releasing said outside retracting means rendered operative by said lost motion-of said plate,

,7, In a door latch, the combination of a latch unit, including a bolt,,spring means ,nrging the bolt to latching position, an out- Side controlled roll-back rotatable ior retracting the said bolt, a remote control unit for retractingsaid bolt, including a longitudinally movable link substantially in line side controlled roll-back rotatable for retracting the said bolt, a remote control un t for retracting said bolt, including a longitudinally movable link substantially in line with said bolt, a connection'between said link and bolt permitting movement of said link in non-bolt retracting direction when said bolt is in projected or latching position, a pivoted dog, directly blocking movement of said rollback when oscillated into one position, cam surfaces on said dog and link respectively coacting to oscillate said do into blocking position when said link is g1ven said movement, and spring means constantly tending to move said dog away from blocking position. v

9. In a door latch, a casing, a bolt slidable therein, a plate connected to said bolt by means of a slot and lug connection whereby it has limited sliding movement relative thereto, a roll-back supported by said casing in a position to engage said bolt to cause retraction thereof, an inside handle, means connecting said plate to said handle whereby movement of the latter will cause retraction of said bolt through the agency of said plate, a lever pivoted between its ends to said casing and having one end thereof engageable' ,wi'tli'sa dfbolt, .a connection between said andbo lt permitting movement of said link llOllflJOlt retracting direction when said in rejected 'or. latching posit1 i )n','a veted g directly blocking moveli lit if, said rollback when oscillated to gs ion,.a 1'1'd'means for oscillating said blockingp'osition when said link 8: In a door 'latch the] combination of a t me 'fiuni t-yi-ncludi ngla bolt, spring means argmgih bolt ta latching position, an outn said movement in non-bolt retract- 

